Maple Ridge, B.C., native Larry Walker won the battle on the field, but not at the Hall of Fame ballot box. Walker’s career WAR of 72.6 is the 51st highest among position players. There is only one of the 50 players with a higher WAR than Walker who has been eliminated from consideration by Hall of Fame voters.

What sets Maple Ridge, B.C., native Larry Walker apart from others is the completeness of his game. He could hit for average, hit for power, run the bases, and field. If you look for players who hit .300, had an on-base percentage of .400 and a slugging percentage of .500 along with 450 doubles, 60 triples, 350 home runs and 1,250 RBI, Walker is one of seven players who would surface. Add 150 stolen bases and he is in a class all his own. Oh, and don’t forget he won seven Gold Gloves.

Larry Walker, who has failed to get even 25 percent support in his seven previous times on the Hall of Fame ballot, had a a career .306 average against left-handed pitching. Walker ranks 13th all-time among left-handed hitters against left-handed pitchers, based on a minimum of 500 plate appearances, according to Baseball-reference.com.

Maple Ridge, B.C., native Larry Walker is in his eighth year on the Hall of Fame ballot and he has yet to receive more than 25 percent support, but in virtually any monitoring system you will find he had a Hall of Fame career. In Bill James’ Hall of Fame monitor, a 100 point total means a good possibility a player will be inducted, and a point total of 130 makes the player a virtual cinch. Walker has a Hall of Fame Monitor rating of 148.